The Centre is establishing mega leather, footwear and accessories clusters in multiple states, expanding beyond the traditional clusters in Tamil Nadu and Uttar Pradesh, with the aim of boosting exports. The facilities will be set up in Muzaffarpur (Bihar), Sitapur (Madhya Pradesh), Raigad district (Maharashtra), and Ranipet (Tamil Nadu) at a cumulative investment of Rs 898 crore.
Investment and Focus on Exports
Nidhi Kesarwani, joint secretary in the Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade (DPIIT), informed reporters on Monday that the parks have already attracted investments worth Rs 2,000 crore. She stated, “One of the parks is still coming up in Maharashtra. They are in the initial phases of development. So, it will grow, and I think quite a good amount of investment will be made.” Exports will be a key focus area in these clusters, she added.
Details of the Clusters
The mega leather, footwear and accessories cluster in Tamil Nadu is being established at Panapakkam in Ranipet, spanning 290 acres, with a central government assistance of Rs 125 crore. Additionally, a Zero Solid Waste Discharge facility will be set up at Ranipet at a cost of Rs 50 crore to convert solid waste into industrial-use salt, promoting environmental sustainability.
Energy Security for Industries
Meanwhile, Petal Dhillon emphasized that a multi-pronged approach has been adopted to ensure adequate energy supplies, including petroleum and gas, for industries so that production remains unaffected by the ongoing West Asia crisis.
